Photo By Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny | Col. Steven Woods, U.S. Army South deputy commander for support, passes the...... read more read more
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FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Soldiers of U.S. Army South Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion came out to MacArthur Parade Field here to pay tribute to Lt. Col. Charles A. Walters Jr., who after two eventful years of service to Army South, relinquished command to Lt. Col. Jeffery C. Knight during a change of command ceremony held July 13.
“To command at Army South has been an absolute honor and pleasure,” said Walters. “It’s a great city and it’s a great organization. The mission is so diverse with the area of responsibility that Army South supports.”
The change of command ceremony, a longstanding military tradition, serves the dual purpose of rendering honors to the departing commander and providing official recognition for the transfer of authority and responsibility for the soldiers, equipment, and the mission of the unit to the new commander. The passing of colors from Walters to Knight ensures that the unit and its soldiers are never without official leadership and also signifies an allegiance of soldiers to their unit's commander.
During the ceremony, both the incoming and outgoing commanders had the opportunity to conduct an inspection of troops as music played from the band. The inspection gives the commander the opportunity to inspect the fitness and readiness of his soldiers and in turn allows the soldiers to display their excellence for their leader.
As Knight inspected his new battalion, the narrator gave a rundown of the unit’s rich history. From the construction of the unit in 1943 in the United States Army as the Headquarters company, Sixth Army, to the present day reactivated Headquarter Support Company with the addition of two provisional companies which provide administrative and supply support for all assigned and attached soldiers of Army South.
“Walters did a phenomenal job. He’s got things running really well,” said Knight. “I think my best option is improve and tweak what he has and not reinvent the wheel.”
When asked about the legacy Walters would leave behind at Army South, he said, “I hope that in the end, the number one legacy that I leave is taking care of soldiers, developing subordinates, helping my first sergeants and commanders, senior non-commissioned officers and junior leaders develop an environment in which they didn’t feel like they couldn’t make a mistake. I hope that I have enabled them to take the initiative to feel like they have the authority and responsibility that they needed to accomplish their mission.”
| Date Taken: | 07.13.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2012 20:13 |
| Story ID: | 91529 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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